Experience

uniqFEED AG

• Chief Executive Officer

  • Apr 2021 - Present

  uniqFEED is a Zurich-based sports tech company that provides virtual advertising solutions for sports rights holders. Using the power of computer vision technology, and with no expensive or intrusive hardware, uniqFEED’s proprietary AdApt software allows virtual content to be inserted into a live sports broadcast feed. This winning formula allows rights holders to create new business models and revenue opportunities via multiple international broadcast feeds. uniqFEED is a Zurich-based sports tech company that provides virtual advertising solutions for sports rights holders. Using the power of computer vision technology, and with no expensive or intrusive hardware, uniqFEED’s proprietary AdApt software allows virtual content to be inserted into a live sports broadcast feed. This winning formula allows rights holders to create new business models and revenue opportunities via multiple international broadcast feeds.



Global Sports Audio

• Spectator Sports

• Non Executive Director

  • Apr 2020 - Present

  Global Sports Audio: the voice of football, reimagining sports consumption through the power of audio Global Sports Audio: the voice of football, reimagining sports consumption through the power of audio



BROADCONCEPTS ADVISORY LIMITED

• United Kingdom
• Broadcast Media Production and Distribution

• Managing Consultant

  • Feb 2016 - Mar 2021

  Broadconcepts provided strategic and business development advisory services to clients in the sports media industry. Services include: • Business strategy & planning • Business development • Market intelligence • Market analysis • Rights Acquisition • Channel/service distribution • Broadcast operations & production • Technology development • Subscriber acquisition, value & retention • Customer relationship management • Branding & communications Broadconcepts provided strategic and business development advisory services to clients in the sports media industry. Services include: • Business strategy & planning • Business development • Market intelligence • Market analysis • Rights Acquisition • Channel/service distribution • Broadcast operations & production • Technology development • Subscriber acquisition, value & retention • Customer relationship management • Branding & communications



Intigral

• Saudi Arabia
• Entertainment Providers
• 200 - 300 Employee

• Non Executive Director

  • Aug 2018 - Apr 2020

  Intigral develops and operates next generation OTT pay TV solutions that enables telcos to drive broadband uptake, reduce churn and generate new revenue through media content. Intigral develops and operates next generation OTT pay TV solutions that enables telcos to drive broadband uptake, reduce churn and generate new revenue through media content.



Supponor

• United Kingdom
• Broadcast Media Production and Distribution
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Chief Executive Officer

  • May 2014 - Feb 2016

  Supponor’s unique DBRLive™ technology replaces perimeter billboards in live, premium sports to create multiple, digital feeds for advertisers and sponsors of sport around the world. Reporting to the shareholder board and managing a team of 40 (Finland & UK), my objective was to commercialise this revolutionary technology business following a ten-year history of pure technical investment. • Productised the technology to create a stable platform for client deployments at broadcast quality • Secured 5-year exclusive agreement with Mediapro for 36 Barcelona & Real Madrid games per season • Negotiated a 3-year exclusive agreement with Infront Sports & Entertainment covering 30 top team Serie A matches per season • Developed first non-football product solution for the NHL • Undertook valuable business development and technical testing programmes with English Premier League, Bundesliga and UEFA to create future sales pipeline Show less



beIN SPORTS

• United States
• Spectator Sports
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Managing Director, beIN Sports MENA

  • Feb 2013 - May 2014

  Responsible for the largest operating division of beIN Sports; reporting to the Group CEO and a member of the Group Executive Steering Committee. All aspects of this fast growing pay television business fell within my remit as Managing Director, Middle East North Africa, including live sport production, news gathering, broadcast operations, media & sponsorship sales, marketing, channel distribution, customer service and digital media operations. • Managed a team of 1,100, twenty live sports channels across 23 countries • Implementation and global co-ordination of the re-branding of Al Jazeera Sports to beIN Sports • Developed the strategy and managed the programme to re-package and re-price the sports product proposition, improving customer acquisition and retention rates • Developed a comprehensive distribution strategy designed to combat piracy by launching a new range of secure, pay TV set-top boxes pre-World Cup 2014 • Successfully integrated the English Premier League into the content portfolio, creating world-class studio productions in both Arabic and English languages • Relocated the UK production facility from London to Doha, resulting in an improved output quality Show less



Setanta Sports

• Georgia
• Spectator Sports
• 100 - 200 Employee

• Managing Director, Setanta Sports Asia Pacific

  • Aug 2010 - Jan 2013

  Setanta Sports is a multi-territory, premium sports broadcaster specializing in football and rugby. Based in Sydney, with a brief to transform the Australia business and to launch in South East Asia. Managed a team of 15, delivering $25m in annual revenue and EBITDA of c. $5.0m. • Played a key role in all content rights acquisitions, mainly across the football and rugby genres, including UEFA Euro 2012• Restructured the cost base, delivering over $1.5m in annual cost savings derived from re-negotiating supply arrangements and off-shoring selected operations • Doubled the premium pay subscriber base leveraging Euro 2012• Implemented a cost-per-acquisition marketing strategy that has significantly improved marketing ROI and subscriber retention• Planned and implemented the strategy for Setanta’s expansion into Asia with a rugby focused premium sports channel reaching 5.4m homes in ten Asia marketsIn 2014 BeIN Sports acquired Setanta Australia and Discovery completed the acquisition on Setanta Sports Asia. Show less

• Managing Director, Setanta Sports North America

  • Jan 2007 - Jul 2010

  Responsibility for driving distribution growth and the acquisition of key content rights for Setanta Sports in North America. This led to the creation of the international arm of Setanta Sports that comprised pay TV operations in four countries, providing coverage of top European sports to over 270,000 subscribers. • Managed a team of 28 staff in multiple locations, turnover reached $40m p.a. • Drove the strategy to secure the media rights to top sporting properties, such as the English Premier League and UEFA Champions League• Extended the distribution footprint through the negotiation of new agreements with DirecTV, Dish Networks, Time Warner, Verizon, AT&T, Cablevision and Rogers Sportsnet• Established partnerships for rights co-operation with other broadcasters in North America, such as Fox Sports and ESPN• Identified, negotiated and launched a joint venture channel business in Canada with Rogers SportsnetFox Sports acquired Setanta Sports North America in 2008 and JV partner Rogers Sportsnet acquired Setanta Sports Canada in 2009. Show less

• Managing Director, Setanta Sports UK

  • Jun 2004 - Dec 2006

  Setanta Sports shareholders wanted to make the jump into mainstream broadcasting using the Scottish Premier League as its springboard. Appointed to lead the development of this residential TV channel in the UK. Developed a state-of-the-art production and broadcast infrastructure in Glasgow that required extensive planning, commercial negotiation and recruitment. This was delivered on time and on budget in preparation for the 2004/2006 football season. After two seasons Setanta Sports’ Scottish operation had successfully established a base from which the business could expand. I subsequently played a central role in the research, planning and acquisition of a package of Barclays Premier League rights to drive UK wide expansion prior to taking on an international role for Setanta Sports. Show less



NASN

• Canada
• Book and Periodical Publishing

• Chief Executive Officer

  • Jan 2002 - May 2004

  NASN was Europe’s first dedicated American sports channel. Initially working as a consultant to develop this innovative channel business and subsequently entrusted with the CEO role by the shareholders. Successfully managed the launch of the channel in the UK, overseeing the negotiation of key agreements for content rights, distribution and infrastructure. NASN was acquired by ESPN in December 2006 for $110m and operated as ESPN America thereafter. NASN was Europe’s first dedicated American sports channel. Initially working as a consultant to develop this innovative channel business and subsequently entrusted with the CEO role by the shareholders. Successfully managed the launch of the channel in the UK, overseeing the negotiation of key agreements for content rights, distribution and infrastructure. NASN was acquired by ESPN in December 2006 for $110m and operated as ESPN America thereafter.



Broadconcepts

• Broadcast Media Production and Distribution

• Consultant

  • Feb 2001 - Jan 2002

  Formed BroadConcepts Ltd, a broadcast media consultancy providing business development, distribution and marketing advice to broadcast media and related businesses. Clients included Setanta Sports (International sports broadcaster), Paul Allen (NASN shareholder), Blockbuster Europe, Energis Interactive, MGt Plc (Customer Relationship Management) and Yes Media. Formed BroadConcepts Ltd, a broadcast media consultancy providing business development, distribution and marketing advice to broadcast media and related businesses. Clients included Setanta Sports (International sports broadcaster), Paul Allen (NASN shareholder), Blockbuster Europe, Energis Interactive, MGt Plc (Customer Relationship Management) and Yes Media.



Digital Broadcasting Company (DBC)

• Chief Operating Officer

  • Mar 1998 - Jan 2001

  Reporting to the CEO with responsibility for all aspects of consumer operations, including marketing, programme planning, broadcast operations and customer relationship management. From the consumer launch in the summer of 1999, the business developed a strong position in the nascent UK digital television market. The operation attracted over 750,000 paying customers. Reporting to the CEO with responsibility for all aspects of consumer operations, including marketing, programme planning, broadcast operations and customer relationship management. From the consumer launch in the summer of 1999, the business developed a strong position in the nascent UK digital television market. The operation attracted over 750,000 paying customers.



Blockbuster

• United States
• Retail
• 700 & Above Employee

• Marketing Director

  • Oct 1990 - Feb 1998

  Responsible for all aspects of brand and product marketing in the UK: Blockbuster’s largest market outside of the US. The key focus of this role was to drive customer acquisition, visit frequency and average spend in order to achieve the business targets. Key achievements included the development of a brand advertising campaign to re-position the video rental leader as a broader entertainment provider, building the retail categories in-store to deliver 40% like-for-like growth and introducing the computer games rental as a new category, generating revenue in excess of £50m p.a. Show less